In the early nineties, NAWEM actively played a pivotal role in participating in Government’s initiatives for the creation of women entrepreneurs and the introduction of information technology in their businesses

The Government and the private sector have recognized NAWEM’s unique representation as being the only multi-racial business women association and hence support NAWEM’s training of women for entrepreneurship.

Here are some of the training programmes conducted:

With Government Sponsorships:

• HAWA Training for Women Entrepreneurs funded by Kementerian Pembanguan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat’ (1998-2000)
• SEKATA Capacity and Capability Building (CB2) Programme (2012) funded by LPPKN
• NAWEM for Sustainability (NAWEM 4S) – an introductory training programme for transforming businesses towards eco and business sustainability (2012) funded by ‘Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita’ (JPW)
• NAWEM for Sustainability Phase 2 (NAWEM4SP2) – the intermediate level of our sustainability initiative to assist SMEs to transform businesses using sustainability tools and framework (2013-2014) funded by JPW
• Smart Domestic Manager Project to train marginalized Malaysian women to provide home/office cleaning services funded by JPW (2015)
• NGO training funded by JPW (2015)
• GST seminars funded by MOF (Kuala Lumpur in 2014 and Kuching, Sarawak in 2015)

With the Private Sector Sponsorships:

• Skills training programme for marginalized women funded by Star Foundation (2005 -2007)
• Capacity and Capability Building (C2B) Programme (2010 and 2011) sponsored by HSBC

NAWEM Toastmasters was initiated to educate and empower NAWEM members in public speaking skills to build their confidence in presenting themselves and enhance their businesses.

Tabung Amal NAWEM (TAN) was set up to support marginalized women in both start-up and existing businesses by offering them grants to purchase equipment for their business.

‘Kementerian Pembanguan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat’ recognized NAWEM’s strength in entrepreneurship development, through its agency, JPW who collaborated with NAWEM to implement the Smart Domestic Manager Project. This unique programme is to overcome foreign labour shortage by training marginalized Malaysian women to provide home/office cleaning services.

On the international front, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Council for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have recognized NAWEM as a reliable trainer for entrepreneurial development. As such, NAWEM is the implementing partner for both UNHCR and UNCTAD in its Malaysian presence.

• Under UNHCR livelihood programme for refugees, NAWEM provides hard skills training in cooking, sewing and soft skills in English language proficiency and accounting knowledge, branding, selling and marketing skills.
• Under UNCTAD’s EMPRETEC training programme, NAWEM helped to train women entrepreneurs by upgrading their skills as UNCTAD believe that this will assist Malaysia towards achieving developed status.

Over 10 years, through the above programmes, NAWEM has assisted more than 500 women to raise their standard of living by enhancing their skills and business acumen.